Anti-stammering device



Dec. 31, 1957 FREED 2,818,065

ANTI-STAMMERING DEVICE Filed Nov. 18, 1955 INVENTOR. GEO/9G5 H. FRIED BY WFW United States Patent" 'fiice 2,818,065 Patented Dec. 31,1957

ANTI-STAMMERING DEVICE George H. Freed, Pine Brook, N. J.

Application November 18, 1955, Serial No. 547,777

3 Claims. (Cl. 128137) This invention relates generally to the field of devices for improving articulation, and is more particularly concerned with devices for lessening difiiculties of speech due to stuttering or stammering.

Stammering, or stuttering, is not due to an actual defect in the speech mechanism, but to inability to control it on account of emotional disturbance. It is an expression of anxiety hysteria. Attempts have been made to forcibly control the speech mechanism when attempts at determining and removing the emotional disturbance underlying the hysteria are ineffective in themselves in effecting a cure.

It has been said that Demosthenes, the Greek orator, held pebbles in his mouth to break himself of a habit of defective speech. Various mechanical devices have been proposed to accomplish the purpose of mechanically forcing the speech mechanism to operate in such a manner that stammering is obviated. It has been proposed to interpose a small U-shaped clasp, which is formed to fit over and retain itself upon the teeth, between the jaws. Such a device has a projection which comes into contact with the opposite jaw and places tension on the masseter muscles. Such a device has the shortcoming of attempting to control only spasmodic actions of the masseter muscles, which are not the only manifestations of stutterers and also is objectionable in that it does not allow the wearer to close his mouth properly.

Another device suggested previously embodies curved base plates having projecting pairs of springs to hold the lips open and affixed to the lower teeth, together with an upper cross bar fitting the roof of the mouth and bearing springs to exert a yielding pressure downwardly upon the tongue. The upper bar and lower plate are held together by spring loaded members which tend to force the teeth apart. Such a device is cumbersome and objectionable in that it protrudes from the mouth and tends to cause great annoyance to the wearer.

Still another device previously suggested embodies a piece of hard rubber moulded to conform to exactly fit the lower jaw inside the teeth, and either lies in the cavity formed between the lower teeth, or is hung by Wires wrapped around the lower teeth. This device serves to exercise the hyo-glossus muscle of the tongue to enforce an exaggerated frenum upon it. Since not all forms of improper formation of words are controlled by forcing the tongue into this unnatural position, the device does not appreciably reduce stammering.

Another device interposes a heavy metal body beneath the tip of the tongue, which is held by wires wrapped around the lower front teeth, the body containing a pointed portion disposed against the back of the front teeth and a depressed central portion which presses against the frenum linguae of the tongue, i. e. the portion which attaches the tongue at the underside in the bottom of the mouth. Such a device causes irritation to the wearer and can easily become displaced, or swallowed.

The instant invention therefore has as its object the provision of a simple, comfortable device to slow the vention i's;to provide an anti-stammeringappliance which is not easily-swallowed nor-j-causes irritation or discomfort tothe wearer; Other objects andadvantagesof the de-" vice of the invention will become readily apparent from a reading of the description hereinafter following and from an examination of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the device in position on the upper teeth,

Figure 2 is a view of the device in front elevation, and

Figure 3 is a side view of the device.

The device of the invention embodies a rigid member of plastic, wire, or other solid material, which fits the outside of the gingival arch proximal to the teeth, and which bears against the teeth only near the extremities thereof. At the extremities there is a right angled extension longer than the teeth, which extends from the sulcus between the lips and the base of the gums beyond the free edge of the teeth, and holds a rubber band or like elastic member in position to obstruct the movement of the tongue and so aid in breaking the reflex habit of the stutterer.

As more clearly shown in Figure 1, 1 represents the upper gums and 2 represents the upper teeth. The antistammering device is shown generally as 3. In position on the upper teeth, the device 3 comprises a member 5 of plastic, wire, or other solid flexible material. The member 5 comprises two depending legs 15 and 17, portions 7 and 8 of which extend generally horizontally; and also transverse portions 9 and 13 which are arcuately formed towards a forward projection 11 to fit conformably to the outside of the gingival arch proximal to the teeth. The legs 15 and 17 abut slightly against the teeth, and extend slightly lower than the teeth, and have bent up ends 19 and 21, respectively, formed into a loop or an eye. The member 5 extends backwardly to about the second bicuspid or the first molar teeth on each side.

Between the loops and fastened to or through the loops is an elastic member 23, which may be a rubber band or of plastics material. The band 23 passes either above or beneath the tongue.

The device, as just described for the upper lip, may also be fitted for the lower teeth.

When the device is properly fitted in the mouth of a stutterer an immediate improvement in his speech has been observed, and with only intermittent wearing, the reflex habit has been broken. Simultaneous attention to the psychic disturbance together with wearing of the device of the invention has effected cures in patients with long existant speech defects.

What I claim is:

1. A device for the treatment of stammering, said device being adapted for juxtaposition adjacent the teeth and comprising a wire of solid flexible material having a transverse portion conforming to the gums, portions extending horizontally along the gums rearwardly of the transverse portion and terminating in substantially perpendicular legs, and an elastic member fastened to and extending between the legs and across the oral cavity to present mechanical interference with the movements of the tongue.

2. An anti-stammering device adapted for juxtaposition adjacent the teeth and comprising a band of flexible material having a transverse portion conforming to the gums, portions extending horizontally along the gums rearwardly of the transverse portion and terminating in substantially perpendicular legs, and an elastic member fastened to and extending between the legs and across the oral cavity to present mechanical interference with the movements of the tongue.

3. An anti-stammering device adapted for juxtaposition alongside and adjacent a portion of the gingival arch, comprising a band of solid flexible material having a transverse portion conforming to the curvature of the gums, side portions extending one from each end of the transverse portion and each terminating in a leg seg- 4 ment extending away from the side portion and into the oral cavity, and an elastic member fastened to and extending between the said leg segments and across the oral cavity to present mechanical interference with the 5 movements of the tongue.

No references cited. 

